[At the entrance of the forest─Approximately three and a half hours ago...]

(Gaara's POV)

"We need to go. We can't waste anymore time," I stated, my voice held urgency in its tone.

About two weeks ago, a joint mission was assigned to Konohagakure and Sunagakure. It was about a reconaissance of an ancient ruin that was found at the borders of the two lands─Fire and Wind.

A two man team was assigned for each village. Kankuro and Baki took the job on our end while Naruto and an anbu named Yamato were sent as a representative of Konoha.

It was a B-ranked mission turned S-ranked in an instant.

(Flashback)

I slumped tiredly into my seat. Today's papers are about half way done. A few more and I can finally rest. With that thought, I picked up the pen and resumed my duties.

Then the door to my office suddenly burst open. "GAARA!" Temari called, fear clear in her eyes. My brows furrowed together. What was wrong?

"What is it, Temari? Did something happen?"

"K-kankuro--!" She shouted but choked midway as tears started to pour down her face.

Now I was beginning to feel anxious. Temari's reaction alone had told me that something happened on the mission Kankuro was doing. And it doesn't seem to be good.

*****

"Curse?!"

"That's right," Tsunade confirmed, staring at both me and Temari. Team 7--Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, Sai--as well as Lady Tsunade came to Suna the moment word was sent about the failure of the recon mission.

Pursing my lips, I held back a low growl. That mission caused way too much damage and not even a spec of answer was recovered. The team's efforts were put in vain.

Baki and Yamato managed to made it here at Suna, Naruto and Kankuro were unconscious and are barely holding for life. The first two Shinobis aren't in good condition too.

Yamato had a huge gash over his chest, right leg broken, head bleeding and wounds all over his body. Baki had lost his left arm--which was retrieved by Kakashi's summons--had more than half of his ribs broken and a diagonal cut over his right eye.

"Is there any way to save them?" I asked, my voice became cold. I don't want to loose another family. I also don't want to let go of the hands that had helped me when I was at my weakest. "I'm willing to do anything."

Hold on, Naruto, Kankuro. I'm definitely going to save you.

(End of Flashback)

I grit my teeth is sheer irritation. The more we stand here idling, the higher the risk of Kankuro and Naruto's death. I won't let them die. Naruto saved me before, now it's time to repay the favor that's long overdue.

Speedily maneuvering from branch to branch, I felt Kakashi and Sakura joining me not soon after. My senses are on full alert. We're treading in an unknown territory.

A sharp pang suddenly entered my mind. I hissed painfully, clutching my head as Shukaku became even more restless. He hasn't acted up after the chuunin exams, but today, he seemed very agitated.

Something ominous is inside this forest, even the mighty one tail is shaking in fear. We have to be very careful. I opened the map that lady Tsunade handed us. I signalled my companions the route that we'll take─due west.

We exchanged silent nods before I fixed my gaze to the front. A few minutes in, we got barricaded by boars the size of an average human being.

There's about six of them. Their tusks gleamed under the moon's light. It wasn't the wisest of decisions to travel at night but we didn't really have a choice.

According to the information we received, the forest only shows itself on a night when the moon is at its peak. Suna and Konoha had a week to prepare before the next fullmoon. We took as much precaution as we could.

The land surrounding this place are bandit territory. Not to mention, a renowned spot for rogue assaults. However, despite us treading on a thin ice, we must move forward. For the sake of the ones we want to protect.

"Spread out but remain in each other's radius," I said and they nodded, doing as I instructed in an instant.

Kakashi went east, I remained at the west and Sakura went North. The large beasts also separated, leaving two with me.

"Sabaku Rō," I casted, creating a large sand enveloping the enemy, making escape an impossible word. "Sabaku Kyū." In one tight squeeze from the sand, the enemy was crushed to smitherins.

What I didn't realize sooner was that, the opponent in front of me were no mere beasts.

*****

As I proceeded forward, a massive headache struck me. My breathing became constricted, my senses dulling as the world around me began to spin.

'Wraaaaahhhhh!' Shukaku screamed, adding more pain into my already throbbing head. W-what's happening?

I let out a painful yell, letting the darkness pull my consciousness away from me.

*****

Hmm.. Where is this?

I opened my eyes to see a vast array of eternal, pitch black, space devoided of life and light. Children's laughter reached my ears and I unconditionally turned around, only to face a very familiar scene.

Suna...I'm at Sunagakure, my home. I shifted my sight to the left and saw the nostalgiac swing where I used to sit all day, watching the kids play while I'm either being ignored or being hated.

Hearing a thump, my eyes followed the ball that got stuck up into a small hole in the upper wall. The kids complained about how they won't be able to reach it.

Commanding the sand, I retrieved the ball, holding it in my hands as I approached the children.

My body stiffened, movements freezing at their scared expression. Huh? W-what? Why are they acting like---A wave of unbearable agony sweeped me off my feet as I realized what I'm seeing.

"Monster! It's the monster!"

"Help! His gonna kill us!"

"Run! I don't wanna die!"

A re-enactment of my childhood. T-that's why this scene is so lucid. This had actually happened but why am I--my thoughts were cut short as the scene changed.

The sun's down and the moon is full. It's times like these that he's more aggressive than ever. That's when I noticed the shifting of the sands around me.

A semi-spherical shaped object made out of sand formed behind me. It only does that when I'm either in the middle of being attacked. I thought, brows furrowing in confusion.

When the sand wall finally vanished did I trully wish that it didn't go down. Why am I here? Not here, not this. Please, anything but this! I cried in terror, my legs turning into jelly however I didn't fall. I wouldn't fall.

My body wouldn't listen to any of my commands. I wanted to just curl in a fetal position, run, scream, yell, anything but head towards him.

"Y-yashamaru?!" I called in shock. My mouth is moving on its own. I was now shivering, in reality, I already am but the younger me had only started to.

Why do I have to witness this? His words began to ring in my head. Rattling my nerves, breaking my confidence. The little light I managed to find slowly facing into nothingness.

"Why Yashamaru?! Why?!"

"Because I hated you, Gaara. Nobody loves you! You're unlovable."

No..! Stop!

"My sister detested ever having to give birth to a monster like you! That's right, Gaara. You're just a monster."

Quiet!

"Nobody will ever care for you."

Stop! I said stop!

"Because you're nothing more than a self loving carnage that never should have existed."

Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!

"Gaara."

I opened my eyes and saw her, the same woman I've seen in the photo for years. My... "Mother."

She reached out a hand, touching my cheeks. I flinched and stiffened at first but settled down when I saw her smiling face. Tears poured from my eyes.

"M-mother... I've always wanted to--"

"Gaara..."

The smile she had vanished, along with the light on her eyes. Her body started to shake, blood dripping from her mouth. She looked at her stomach and I followed her gaze.

My eyes widened at the large hole below her abdomen. Her hands shakily went to my shoulders before landing and staying on my neck. Before I knew what's going on, I was gasping for air.

"You! Because of you, I died! Murdurer! You killed me, Gaara! You killed me! Die! Die, you monster!"

Choking...My mother is choking me, with her own hands. I don't know why but more tears flooded my now pale complexion. I'm loosing oxygen, I can't breathe. I-I'm gonna die?

Finally resigning to my fate of dying in the hands of my own mother, I closed my eyes as I felt the last of my strength leaving me. But before everything came to a stop, a flash of black hair and blood red eyes, entered my mind.

Right after that, a feeling of relief seranaded my body. It was warm, calming my broken and wavering soul. I don't know what happened however...

Thank you.

───────── ℳikaℜael ─────────

Author's Note:

I don't really remember much about the things Yashamaru said to Gaara. So I just winged it.  ^_^v

Gaara's Jutsu

<♥> Sabaku Rō || Sand Prison

<♥> Sabaku Kyū || Sand Coffin

U N E D I T E D

[✔] CHAPTER THREE
JANUARY 17, 2017
10:30 PM
PST-PHILIPPINE STANDARD TIME